Citing ‘uncharted territory,’ Lincolnshire signals it will ban recreational marijuana dispensaries in town

Those in the crowd during the Oct. 15, 2019 meeting of the Lincolnshire Village Board who oppose a recreational cannabis dispensary in the village responded with a resaid hand when mayor Liz Brandt asks who is against allowing one. (Steve Sadin / Pioneer Press)

Lincolnshire plans not to allow the sale or growing of recreational cannabis in the village, delighting many in a crowd of more than 80 people – including some wearing “Opt Out” T-shirts – at a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday.

The audience applauded loudly and cheered when the decision was announced.

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Trustees reached a consensus at the meeting against permitting the sale or growth of recreational marijuana in part because not enough is known yet about the substance or the new law, they said.

“We should prohibit it because it is uncharted territory,” Trustee Mara Grujanac said.

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Mayor Liz Brandt said an ordinance which will not allow the sale or growth of recreational cannabis within the town limits will be presented when the trustees meet Oct. 28.

After Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation June 25 legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois effective Jan. 1, Lincolnshire was one of many communities which started discussions about how to deal with the new law. The board first discussed the issue in July.

During 30 minutes of public comment, 15 people spoke against allowing a dispensary in Lincolnshire while one favored it. A number of the speakers were Adlai E. Stevenson High School students and parents. They are concerned local sale will increase accessibility for youth.

Grujanac, who favors opting out of allowing recreational cannabis related businesses in the village, said accessibility is still a reality because there will be dispensaries in nearby towns. Nine nearby communities have voted to allow dispensaries. Families must protect the youth.

“There will be accessibility to cannabis in our area,” Grujanac said. “The question is not going to be whether or not Lincolnshire allows it but whether or not there is discussion about it in the home and there is discussion about it in the community and the danger of it.”

All six trustees and Brandt said they oppose allowing marijuana-related businesses in Lincolnshire. Reasons include not enough knowledge about what will actually be sold despite promises from the state of strict regulation.

Trustee Jill Raizin said with Stevenson’s enrollment of approximately half the size of the village’s population, the exposure to youth would be significant in Lincolnshire. She, too, said she is concerned about the potency of the marijuana which will be sold and the uncertainty of what happens once legalization occurs.

“Kids do feel if something is legal it’s OK to do,” Raizin said. “We also know kids don’t know how to regulate their behavior. Different products can have completely different degrees of potency. Sometimes the most potent products are edibles which might appeal to teenagers.”

A crowd of more than 80 people was ready Oct. 15, 2019 to share opinions with the Village Board on allowing a recreational cannabis dispensary in Lincolnshire. (Steve Sadin / Pioneer Press)

Carson Ezell, a Stevenson junior, said in Denver, Colo., where recreational cannabis has been legal since 2014, use has increased near high schools despite the fact, like Illinois, a person must be 21 to purchase it.

“Within 1,000 feet of schools, between 2014 and 2015, the number of marijuana offenses related to marijuana more than quadrupled,” Ezell said. “Since then it has not returned to pre-commercialization levels.”

Dr. Susan Sirota, a local pediatrician and parent of a Stevenson student, listed a panoply of medical and social issues she has seen including vaping related lung disease, poor school performance, loss of motivation, suicide attempts and acts of violence against family members. She said the less exposure to young people the better.

When the 30 minutes allotted for public input was over, all comments were against allowing a dispensary. Brandt asked if there was anyone in the audience favoring sale of recreational cannabis who wanted to speak.

Melissa Wilcox of Lincolnshire said she has children in local schools and does not want them or any other youngster using marijuana. Since it is legal, she does not oppose allowing a dispensary in the village.

“We legalized the substance,” Wilcox said. "It’s safer than alcohol. So, I think we’re hypocrites if we allow alcohol to be sold in the village and we don’t allow cannabis. What this does is regulate it.”